A Step Into the Past - Julia Burns

Pompeii & Vesuvio

Journals Sometimes Aren't About Journaling - Julia Burns

A Week In Milan - Julia Burns

This Town Was Built on Cinder Blocks and Hills - Julia Burns

The Saints Are Watching This City - Juila Burns

A Frog - Julia Burns

Fratelli D'Italia

The Ocean - Julia Burns

Sunrise, Sunset - Julia Burns

Temple - Julia Burns

Boats and Toilets - Julia Burns

The Tower - Julia Burns

The Processional - Julia Burns

Really Boring - Julia Burns

I am really bored

and really boring
most of the time.
It’s mostly my fault,
so it’s not really
something I can complain about.
There is only so much
hilarity in daily life
that can be sucked into bad poetry,
or good poetry,
or any poetry,
frankly.
Anything can only
be put into so much
poetry, before
it becomes horribly
cliché.

Hit By Lightning - Julia Burns

I was hit by lightning once. Okay, well, I was almost hit by lightning; I was going caving. That sounds contradictory, I know, but it happened. It was actually on the way to caving: I went to this "adventure camp" when I was younger and they would often organize trips to do adventurey-type things. (Caving, obviously, was one of them.) We were driving in this van that probably saw Woodstock itself, and the van was completely caked in mud. We were rolling along through this big field, and there were a few tall trees that lined the road, but not much else. About halfway to the cave a lightning storm rolled in. I guess I should say that it was terrifying, but mostly it was just cool. Lightning hit the tree right next to the car at the exact second we were passing it - it was pretty epic. I was totally almost hit by lightning.

Things I Want to Say, But I Don't - Julia Burns

“I only asked you how you are so you would ask me.”

“The dress doesn’t make you look fat; your fat makes you look fat.”

“If I wasn’t invited to your awesome party, I probably don’t want to hear about it.”

“Sometimes you’re really funny, but sometimes I laugh because I know that’s what you want me to do.”

“Your house, car, purse, dog, etc, do not make you cool - especially not when your parents paid for them.”

“I love you, and I probably should say it more often, but it’s sort of embarrassing.”

“Did I ask you where you want to sit? All the window tables are busy; please just sit where I put you.”

“Don’t tell me how to do my job.”

“I’m acting like I’m not listening, but I usually am - and, one day, I hope to use it against you.”

“Stop being a wuss and do something about what you’re complaining about - or just stop complaining all together, that would be cool too.”

“Sometimes I think about how we could be friends, but then I remember how conniving you are, and I re-assess that thought.”

“When I make fun of my family it’s fine - when you do it, it pisses me off.”

“When you come in where I work- which is, you know, a restaurant- and say ‘I sure hope you have food here’ it’s not funny. I’ll laugh, but really I just want to get on with my job.”

“Being ignored is annoying, but I do it a lot.”

“I don’t like that person you’re friends with. I don’t care how nice they are to you, they’re a bitch to me, and that matters more.”

“You’re super amazing, and it makes me way jealous, but it doesn’t make you any less super amazing.”

“I’m really paranoid that you don’t like me. It doesn’t matter if we’ve been friends for a long time or not; I’m still paranoid.”

“Yeah, I talked about you behind your back, and you’ve talked about me. It’s human nature, let’s get over it.”

My Age - Julia Burns

Sometimes my generation disappoints me- mostly when they ignore the important things, or at least the important things as I’ve found them. Which, I know, my beliefs shouldn’t entrap others, but I still feel like sometimes whatever we are ignoring is a universal “important thing”. Like taking advantage of the education that’s provided for us. That makes me sound like an old person, I know, but beliefs are shaped by experience, I think, and mine have made me into an old person. It’s also the fact that I once went to a school that doesn’t make available the opportunities that we have now, and as Joni Mitchell once crooned “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”. We’re also so desensitized to everything: not just bad things, like war or famine, but also to good things. It’s as if we think we’re too cool to get excited; everything has to be brushed off. We do something really amazing that we’ve been striving for, and it’s always like “Yeah. That’s pretty cool.” Get excited! It’s important to live the joy that we’re feeling- what else is going to make us so happy? Which makes me sound like a young person… so, I guess I’m middle aged?

Beat - Julia Burns

Tap the beat of the rhythm:
half, whole, quarter note.
They are reflecting your heart.

Spring - Julia Burns

Sometimes it's a rainy day,
sometimes it's the sun.
Mostly it is the warm spring.

Stand on the Side of Love - Julia Burns

I ask you, my friends,

to stand.

Do not sit!

Thinking your idle

obediance is enough.

It is not enough,

not enough for this active

thing we call life.

You must stand,

stand on the side of love.

For violence can put out violence,

but only love can put out hate.

And if you are strong enough to stand,

well maybe, maybe you can march.

Yes! March, march to love,

with love.

Not only stand and support,

but actively participate.

I ask you, my friends,

participate in love.

J.S.B.